Automobile ignition lock



Dec. 8, 1931. N, JACQB] 1,835,303

AUTOMOBILE IGNITION LOCK Filed June 3. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1! 4 w 5 @judwX-o u- Edward N.JmEnhI Q did/m 1931- V E. N. JACOB! 1,835,303

AUTOMOBILE IGNITION LOCK Filed June 3, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 44/ w 1/5 "ii Z9 J/ .1 I P I 0 i \s\\ I k 3 1| 55 J//-\ 37 j 7, f0 M A g H M W Patented Dec. 8, 1 931 EDWARO N. JACOBI, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO BRIGGS 8c STRATTON CORPORATION, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN AUTOMOBILE IGNITION LOCK Application filed June-3, 1927. Serial No. 196,279.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automobile locks and has as an object the provision of means whereby the withdrawal of the locking key is essential to the stopping of a motor to thus preclude the negligent or absent-minded leaving of the key in the lock.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved circuit closer and lock for operating the same having means whereby, after the initial closing of the circuit, no amount ofrotation of the ke will open the circuit, but withdrawal of the key from the lock instantly moves the circuit closer to open position whereby careless leaving of the key in the lock to thus invite the theft of the car by persons so inclined is prevented.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved lock of the character described having an arcuate tail or cam portion for actuating the movable member of a circuit closer and an auxiliary member concentrically of the lock and the cam or tail and key urged to engage the movable switch member after the same has been moved to a circuit closing position and prevent the movement of said member to circuit breaking position until the key has been withdrawn.

And a still further object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved locking device for a vehicle ignition circuit adapted to be associated with the c0nventional ignition coil and operable from the dash and having a direct connection between the lock plug andthe movable switch member. I 1

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the ap- Y pended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 have illustrated one complete example of the physthrough Figure ical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode Ihave so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure l is a view through a portion of an automotive vehicle instrument mounting panel or board illustrating the application thereto of my improved device, parts of which are in section and parts of which are in elevation;

Figure 2 is a view, partly in section and y partly in elevation, taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 22; F igure 3 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken 2 on the plane of the line 33 and proper;

illustrating the lock assembly Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the circuit closer taken through Figure l on the plane of the line 4-4, parts thereof being in section and parts in elevation;

Figure .5 is a fragmentary View similar to Figure L illustrating the circuit closer as in one position, and v Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken through Figure 5 on the plane of the line 6'6.'

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, 5 designates the core and 6 the ignition coil wound therearound of a conven tional automotive vehicle ignition circuit, the coil and core being enclosed within a housing formed of two substantially complementary caps or covers 7 and 8 having their marginal portions flanged laterally, as at 9, and riveted or otherwise secured to the core 5, as at 10. The coil assembly is mounted from the rear of the dash or instrument panel 11 of the Y automotive vehicle by a bracket structure 12 being fixed to the housing by screws or other means 15 and providing a terminal for a high tension cable 16 leading from one side of the high tension winding, not shown,'of the coil.

to thedistributor, not.shown, of the ignition circuit in which the coil is incorporated. The cap 7 is cut away to provide an elongated opening 17 which is, closed by a panel of insulating material 18 suitably riveted thereto, as at 19, and fixed to the panel 18 at one side of an opening 20 therein is a pair of terminals 21 and 22, the terminal 21 being connected with one side of the low tension winding, not shown, of the ignition coil by a conductor 23 and the terminal 22 being connected with the other side of the low tension winding by a lead 24 and with one side of the conventional breaker box, not shown, by a conductor 25, the ignition circuit being normally broken at the terminal 21 in the manner to be described. As is customary in circuits of this type, the other side of the breaker box is suitably connected with 'thepositive side of the source of current, not shown, the negative side of which is frequently connected through an ammeter, not shown, and then with the terminal 21, the conductor 26 from the 'ammeter being electricall connected, as at 27, with a terminal 28 xed to the insulation 18 and having an end 29 extended into the casing? to provide a pivotal mounting for a movable switch member 30, to be later described.

The movable switch member 30 consists of a strip of resilient contacting material having one end reduced to form a teat 31 which has a rocking or swivel connection with the terminal end 29 by being projected through an aperture 32 therein. The free end 33 of the member 30 is arranged to electrically engage the terminal 21 which is a post projected into the casing 7 a strip of insulating material 34 being riveted medially to the member 30 at its under side in register with the aperture 20. One end 35 of a contractile spring 36 is connected with the movable switch member by a clip 37 and the other end .38 of the spring is connected to an attaching member 39 fixed to the panel 18, the spring 36- passing through an aperture 40 in the panel and exerting a tension on the movable switch member so that the teat 31 is retained w in the aperture 32,- the other end 33 thereof is" yieldably urged out of engagement with the contact 31' and the switch is normally yieldably urged toward the panel 18, for the reason later described.

Secured in theaperture 20 of the insulation 18 is a guide sleeve or'bushing 41 inwhich the inner end portion 42 of a locking barrel mounting head 43 is guided, the locking barrel' mounting head projecting through the panel 11 and an escutcheon plate 44 of con ventional "construction and being secured thereto bythe usual jam nut 45', sleeve 41 serving to align the locking barrel mounting head during installation. The locking barrel mounting head has an outer bore 45 and an inner bore 46 concentric with the outer bore v to free theplug for rotation, the plug being secured against inward movement by the shoulder formed at its juncture with its reduced end 48 abutting the shoulder at the juncture of the bores 45 and 46 and against outward movement by the cap 52 secured over the outer end of the locking barrel mounting head and extending behind a shoulder 53 formed at the extreme "outer end of the lug, The inner reduced end portion 48; of t e locking plug or cylinder is bored, as

at 54, and the portion thereof extended beyond the panel 18 is cut away to form an arcuate tail or. cam 55 disposed under the insulation 34 of the movable switch member and against which the movable switch member is held by the spring 36 so'that rotation of the plug by the key 51 in either direction causes the tail or cam 55 to move the switch element in the manner illustrated in Figure 5 to engage its free endwith the c'ontact 21.

the locking of the plug by the withdrawal of the key 50, a pin or plunger 56 is slidably mounted in the plug inner end by a bushing or sleeve 57 threaded in the bore 54at the inner end of the cam 55 and the pin or plunger is normally retracted to the position illustratedin Figure 3 by an expansible spring 58 confined between the bushing57 and a head 59 on the inner end of the p-lunger and.

guided in the bore 54. The head 59 normally abuts the shoulder formed at the inner end of the bore 54 and the key-way slot 60 of the plug or cylinder communicates with bore 54 so that upon insertion ofthe key 51 its inner end strikes the headof the plunger moving it outwardly of the bore 54 against its spring.

Outward movement of the pin 55 causes a similar movement of the movable switch To prevent disengagement of the movableswitch member and contact 21 except upon f member which is permitted by its swivel oonnection with the terminal 29 and as the plugis rotated by the key. 51 the cam or tail 55 moves the same into electrical engagement with the contact 21. As the medial portion of the movable switch'member is moved out of alignment with the plunger 56, the spring 36 pullstho same toward the panel 18 to its position to one side of the pin 56 as illustrated in Figures 5 and'6.

Thus it will be seen that after its initial operation by rotation of the plug by the key, the switch is held closed by the pin 56 which is secured against retraction by the key 55 remaining in the lock, and no amount of rotation of the sleeve or plug 47 by the key will efi'ect the breaking of the circuit between member and contact 21. Before the circuit can be interrupted, it is essential that the key 51 be Withdrawn permitting the spring 58 to retract the plunger 56 out of the path of the member 34 when its spring 36 instantly Figure 4.

The member 30 engages the terminal 21 prior to the completion of its movement out of alignment with the pin 56 so that the member 30 is sprung slightly when the lock cylinder comes to rest and the pin engages the side of the member 30. The spring 36 is of course strong enough to overcome the tendency of friction between the member 30' and the terminal 21 to retard the movement of the member 30 toward the panel. This springing of the member 30 insures a good I electrical engagement between it and the terminal 21 and further, should the key be turned far enough to close the circuit, but not far enough to permitthe member 30 to be pulled off the end of the pin 56 and into engagement with its side as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the lock cylinder will be rotated back by the spring 36 when the turning pressure on the key 51 is released.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described appertains that I provide a novel and improved lock structure which will necessitate the withdrawal of the key from the lock to effect the interruption of the circuit and further that I provide an improved lock structurecapable of production at a cost no greater than that of the conventional locknow in general use.

-, What I claim as my invention is:

1. A locking device of the character described, comp-risingin combination with a movable member, a second member adapted i upon rotation by aproper key inserted therein to move 'the'first member in one direction,

means automatically moving "the movable member in another direction to a predeten mined position aftera predetermined degree of movement in the first direction, and a third 1 ember for retainingjthe first member in said predetermined position and adapted to be moved bythe insertion of a proper key in said second member.

2. A locking device of the character described, comp-rising in combination with a movable member, a key actuated rotatable pulls it to its position illustrated in member adapted upon rotation to move the first member in one direction, means for automatically moving said first member in another direction to a predetermined position after a predetermined degree of movement'of the first member in said first direction, and means actuated by the insertion of a proper key in the second member to secure the first member in said predetermined position, said means retaining the first member in said position until the key is withdrawn.

3.'A locking device of the character described, comprising in combination with a movable member, a key actuated rotatable member adapted upon actuation to move the first member in one direction, means for automatically moving said first member in another direction to a predetermined position after a predetermined degree of movement of the first member in said first direc tion, means actuated by the insertion of' a proper key in the second member to secure the first member in said predetermined position, said means retaining the first member in said position as long as the key remains in the secondmember, and means moving the first means to inoperative position upon withdrawal of the key to permit the movement of the first member from its first-mentioned position. 4

4. The combination with a movable member, of a rotatable key actuated member having a key receiving slot in its outer end and a bore in its inner end, a member on the inner end of the second member eccentric with re spect to its bore and adapted to move the firstmemberin one direction, means for moving the first member in another direction to a predetermined position after a predetermined degree of movement in said first direction, and means mounted in the bore of the second member and actuated by the insertion ofa key in the slot thereof to. engage behind the firstmember when moved to said predetermined position to secure the same in such position. be5. The combination with a movable meming a key receiving slot in its outer end and a bore in its inner end, a member on the inner end of the second member eccentric with respect to its bore and adapted upon rotation of the key actuated member to move the first member in one direction, means for moving the first member in another di rection to a predetermined position after a predetermined degree of movement in said first direction, means mounted in the bore of the second member andactuated by the i nsertion of a key in its slot to engage behind the first member when moved to said predetermined position and secure the same in such position, and means operable upon the withdrawal of the [key from the second member to retract the means mounted in the second of a rotatable key actuated member havmember bore out of engagement with the first member to permit its movement from said predetermined position.

6. In a locking device of the character described the combination with a mounting panel, a plate spaced from the panel and a 'by.rotation of the barrel actuates said member.

7. Ina locking device of thecharacter described, the combination with a mounting pahel, a plate spaced from the panel and a movable member supported from the plate, of locking means including a locking barrel mounting head fixed to the panel and registering with an aperture in said plate, azpilot,

sleeve fitted within the plate aperture and receiving the inner end of the locking barrel mounting head, a key actuated barrel 'mounted in the locking barrel mounting head, cooperating means between Y the key actuated barrel and the movable member whereby rotation of the barrel actuates said member, and means securing the movable member in one position while the key remains in the key actuated barrel.

8. The combination with a member mounted for movement out of either of two planes,

0 i of arotatable key-actuated member having a key receiving slot, means actuated by the key actuated member and engageable with the first member to move the same out of one plane as the key actuated. member is rotated,

' means normally retracted within said key actuated member and movable outwardly thereof by the insertion of a proper key in the key actuated member to move the first member I out of'the other plane, and means for retracting said first member into said second plane after the first memberha's been moved a predetermined degree relative to said normally I retracted means by rotation of the key actuated member. I

9. The combination with a member mounted for movement in either of two planes, of a rotatable key actuated member having a key receiving slot, an eccentric member extended from the inner end of the key actuated member and engageable with the first member to move the same in one plane as the key act-11a ated member is' rotated, means normally retracted within said key actuated member and movable outwardly thereof by the insertion of a proper key in the key actuated member to move'the first member in another plane,

and means for moving said first member over said normally retracted means after the same I has been moved a predetermined degree by rotation of the key actuated member.

10. In a lock of the character described, a v

movable member, means mounting said member for movement in either of two planes, a rotatable key actuated member having a key receiving slot, means on the inner end of said member and adapted to move the movable member in one plane as the key actuated member is rotated by a proper key, means operable upon the insertion of a proper key in the key actuated member to move the first member in another plane, and means moving the first -member over said last means as said member is moved to one position in the firstmentioned plane by rotation of the key actuated member.

- 11. In a device of the character described, a

resilient member, means pivotally mounting one end of the resilient member, a stop against which the other end of the resilient member is engageable, a key actuated member, a connection between the key actuated member and the resilient member whereby rotation of the key actuated member by a proper key moves the resilient member to engagement'with the stop, a member projectable from the key actuated member by the insertion of a proper key, and means for engaging the resilient member with one side of the projectable member after the resilient member has been flexed by engagement with the stop to retain the resilient memher in engagement with the stop independent of the key actuated member.

12. In a device of the character described, a resilient member, means pivotally mounting one end of the resilient member, a stop against which the other end of the resilient member is engageable, a key actuated member, a connection between the key actuated member and the resilient member whereby rotation of the key actuated member by a proper key moves the resilient member to engagement with the stop, a member projectable from the key actuated member by the insertion of a proper key, and means for engaging the resilient member with one side of the projectable member after the resilient memberhas'been flexed by engagement with the stop to retain the resilient member in engagement with the stop independent of the key actuated member,

said means normally urging the free end of V the resilient member from the stop.

13. In a device of the character described, a

resilient member, means pivotally mounting key, and means for engaging the resilient member with .one side of the projectable member after the resilient member has been flexed by engagement with the stop to retain the resilient member in engagement with the stop independent of the key actuated member, said means normally urging the free end of said resilient member from said stop, and means for withdrawing the projectable member from engagement with the resilient member when the key actuated member is moved to one position and the key retracted therefrom. i

14. A locking device of the character described, comprising in combination with, a member movable to and from an operative position, a key receiving member adapted upon rotation by a proper key inserted there- I scribed, a stationary swatch terminal, a switch in to move the movable member toward operative position, a stop adapted to be actuated to operative position by the insertion of a key in the key receiving member, and means for automatically engaging the movable member with the stop to hold the movable member in operative position irrespective of the position of said key receiving member, until the key is withdrawn.

15. In a device of the characterdescribed,

the combination with a member movable to and from an operative position, of a key receiving member adapted upon rotation by a proper key inserted therein to move the movable member toward operative position, a stop normally substantially retracted within the key receiving member and projectable therefrom upon the insertion of a proper key, and means for engaging the movable member with the stop so as to hold the movable member in operative position. I

16. In a device of the character described, the combination with a member movable to and from an operative position, of a key receiving member adapted upon rotation by a proper key inserted therein to move the movable member toward operative position, a stop normally substantially retracted within the key receiving member and projectable therefrom upon the insertion of the key, and means for engaging the movable member with the stop so as to hold'the movable member in op erative position, said stop being substantially co-axial with the key receiving member whereby the stop holds the movable member in its operative position irrespective of rotation of the key receiving member subsequent to the movable member reaching its operative position.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination with a member movable to and from an operative position, of means for yieldably urging the movable member toward inoperative position, a key receiving member rotatable upon the insertion of a proper key,

a stop projectable from the key receiving member upon the insertion of a key, a cam carried by the ke receiving member and holdinthe movable member against the action 0 its yieldable ur ing means in alignment with the stop where y the movable memr is moved in a direction transversely to its movement to and from operative position by the projection of the stop and against the action of its yieldable urging means, said cam upon rotation of the key receiving member moving the movable member toward its operative position and out of alignment with the stop whereby the yieldable urging means moves the movable member in back of the stop so that the stop holds the movable member in its operative position irrespective of the position of rotation of the key receiving memr. 18. ha lock switch of the character demember movable to and from engagement with the stationary switch terminal, means yieldably urging the switch member away from the stationary terminal, a rotatably mounted key receivin member adapted upon rotation by a properiey inserted therein to move the switch member toward the stationary terminal, and a stop projected from the key receiving member upon the insertion of the key for holding the switch member in engagement with the stationary terminal irrespective of the position of rotation of the key receiving member subsequent to the engagement of the switch member with the station ary terminal.

19. In a lock switch device of the character described, a member pivotally mounted for movement to and from an operative position, a key receiving member adapted upon rotation by a proper key inserted therein to move the movable member toward its operative position, a stop projectable from the key receiving member upon the insertion of the keyand engaging the movable member'to move the same in a direction transversely of its direction of movement to and from operative position, and means yieldably urging the movable member away from its operative position and toward the key receiving member whereby the movable member isautomatically engaged behind the stop upon a predetermined degree of movement toward operative position by the rotation of the key receiving member.

20. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a member pivotally erative position, and means yieldably urging the movable member to active engagement with the stop and away from its operative position.

21. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a movable member, of a key receiving member adapted upon rotation by a proper key inserted therein to move the movable member toward an operative position, a stop projectable from the key receiving member by the insertion of the key for holding the movable member in its operative position, and means yieldably urging, the movable member away from its operative po- 10 sition and into active engagementr with the stop whereby the movable member is autoy matically engaged with the stop upon rotation of the key receiving member and is automatically moved outof its operative position upon the withdrawal of the key. I

22. In a device of the character described, 7 and in combination with a member adapted to be moved to and from a predetermined position, a lock oylinderadapted upon rotation 26 by a proper key inserted therein to move the movable member toward said predetermined position, a stop normally substantially retracted within the lock cylinder and projectable axially from its inner endby the insertion of the key, and means for automatically engaging the movable member behind the stop as the lock cylinder is turned to move the movable member toward said predetermined v position whereby the stop holds the movable 30 member in said predetermined position irrespective 'of subsequent rotation of the lock cylinder and until Withdrawal of the key.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. A N. JACQBI. 

